SULFANILAMIDE

Abstract

In previous studies of the streptococcidal power of whole blood in vitro, it was ascertained that the organisms were killed by intracellular digestion following phagocytosis. In order to render phagocytosis effective, it was necessary to have specific antibody present in the plasma. Plasma without leukocytes was incapable of killing organisms. Tillett 1 has demonstrated that plasma obtained from patients with febrile diseases not due to a hemolytic streptococcus is bacteriostatic, as well as bactericidal, for certain strains of hemolytic streptococci. As a part of our studies on hemolytic streptococcic infections, it was desirable to determine the effect of adding sulfanilamide to whole blood and to plasma in vitro and to study its mode of action. We were especially interested in determining whether the bactericidal power of the blood could be enhanced, since we have shown previously that during the natural course of hemolytic streptococcic infections specific antibodies increased or appeared